Integrating Machine Learning and Digital Twins for Enhanced Smart Building Operation and Energy Management: A Systematic Review

Artificial Intelligence has recently expanded across various applications. Machine Learning, a subset of Artificial Intelligence, is a powerful technique for identifying patterns in data to support decision making and managing the increasing volume of information. Simultaneously, Digital Twins have...

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Main Authors: Bruno Palley, João Poças Martins, Hermano Bernardo, Rosaldo Rossetti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Urban Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/6/202
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author Bruno Palley
João Poças Martins
Hermano Bernardo
Rosaldo Rossetti
author_facet Bruno Palley
João Poças Martins
Hermano Bernardo
Rosaldo Rossetti
author_sort Bruno Palley
collection DOAJ
description Artificial Intelligence has recently expanded across various applications. Machine Learning, a subset of Artificial Intelligence, is a powerful technique for identifying patterns in data to support decision making and managing the increasing volume of information. Simultaneously, Digital Twins have been applied in several fields. In this context, combining Digital Twins, Machine Learning, and Smart Buildings offers significant potential to improve energy efficiency and operational effectiveness in building management. This review aims to identify and analyze studies that explore the application of Machine Learning and Digital Twins for operation and energy management in Smart Buildings, providing an updated perspective on these rapidly evolving topics. The methodology follows the PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews, using Scopus and Web of Science databases. This review identifies the main concepts, objectives, and trends emerging from the literature. Furthermore, the findings confirm the recent growth in research combining Machine Learning and Digital Twins for building management, revealing diverse approaches, tools, methods, and challenges. Finally, this paper highlights existing research gaps and outlines opportunities for future investigation.
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spelling doaj-art-40dc4dc2c2bc4942baf5d93ff20291aa2025-08-20T03:26:56ZengMDPI AGUrban Science2413-88512025-06-019620210.3390/urbansci9060202Integrating Machine Learning and Digital Twins for Enhanced Smart Building Operation and Energy Management: A Systematic ReviewBruno Palley0João Poças Martins1Hermano Bernardo2Rosaldo Rossetti3INESC TEC—Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalCONSTRUCT—Gequaltec, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalINESC TEC—Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalLIACC—Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalArtificial Intelligence has recently expanded across various applications. Machine Learning, a subset of Artificial Intelligence, is a powerful technique for identifying patterns in data to support decision making and managing the increasing volume of information. Simultaneously, Digital Twins have been applied in several fields. In this context, combining Digital Twins, Machine Learning, and Smart Buildings offers significant potential to improve energy efficiency and operational effectiveness in building management. This review aims to identify and analyze studies that explore the application of Machine Learning and Digital Twins for operation and energy management in Smart Buildings, providing an updated perspective on these rapidly evolving topics. The methodology follows the PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews, using Scopus and Web of Science databases. This review identifies the main concepts, objectives, and trends emerging from the literature. Furthermore, the findings confirm the recent growth in research combining Machine Learning and Digital Twins for building management, revealing diverse approaches, tools, methods, and challenges. Finally, this paper highlights existing research gaps and outlines opportunities for future investigation.https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/6/202machine learningdigital twinssmart buildingsenergy management
spellingShingle Bruno Palley
João Poças Martins
Hermano Bernardo
Rosaldo Rossetti
Integrating Machine Learning and Digital Twins for Enhanced Smart Building Operation and Energy Management: A Systematic Review
Urban Science
machine learning
digital twins
smart buildings
energy management
title Integrating Machine Learning and Digital Twins for Enhanced Smart Building Operation and Energy Management: A Systematic Review
title_full Integrating Machine Learning and Digital Twins for Enhanced Smart Building Operation and Energy Management: A Systematic Review
title_fullStr Integrating Machine Learning and Digital Twins for Enhanced Smart Building Operation and Energy Management: A Systematic Review
title_full_unstemmed Integrating Machine Learning and Digital Twins for Enhanced Smart Building Operation and Energy Management: A Systematic Review
title_short Integrating Machine Learning and Digital Twins for Enhanced Smart Building Operation and Energy Management: A Systematic Review
title_sort integrating machine learning and digital twins for enhanced smart building operation and energy management a systematic review
topic machine learning
digital twins
smart buildings
energy management
url https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/6/202
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